The cruiser category persists even when navies avoid the name. Russia's nuclear-powered Kirovs combine exceptional firepower with political status, although their value also makes any loss difficult to accept. China calls its comparable ships large destroyers, while the United States debates the form and designation of future large surface combatants. With the Zumwalt class already around 14,000 tons, a vessel openly called a modern cruiser could approach 20,000 tons. Mission, scale, and signaling power matter more here than the label alone.
Chapter · 21:54-23:18
Why today's large destroyers are cruisers in all but name
Compare Russian, Chinese, and American large surface combatants to see why a new cruiser would likely approach 20,000 tons regardless of its official label.